The state of Missouri is earnestly joining in with the national effort to defeat drunk driving through public, elevated enforcement. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign runs every year right around St. Patrick's Day. This year, it will take effect from March 14 to March 17. That weekend promises to have elevated levels of intoxication around the country, which inevitably leads to more drunk driving.
The Crackdown
That is the motivation behind the campaign- to step up enforcement during this most public moment, when much of the country drinks more than usual. By meeting an increase in drunk driving with more patrols, quicker arrests, and more visible crackdown effort, sheriff's departments all around Missouri hope to both convince people not to drive while intoxicated and also catch them quickly if they decide to do so.
Drunk driving contributes to many fatalities, especially around St. Patrick's Day. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2012, three quarters of all St. Patrick's Day traffic fatalities involved at least one drunk driver. The risk of being in a fatal or dangerous action is significantly higher as a direct result of the elevated rates of drinking around this holiday and its associated weekend. Those statistics are what drive the national and local crackdowns.
Law Enforcement
Being accused of driving while intoxicated is a difficult situation. It takes an experienced St. Louis, Missouri DWI defense lawyer to represent you and your interests in such a case. Every state has their own rules that govern driving while intoxicated and the protocol for testing and arresting suspects. Enforcement of these regulations is occasionally overzealous due to the emotional nature of the charge. National and local crackdown efforts tend to exacerbate those mistakes, leading to arrests that aren't consistent with the law.
The Current Crackdown
Madison County will be operating its crackdown to reduce drunk driving, but that does not mean that a typical driver that is arrested is actually guilty of drunk driving. The sheriff's department is understandably worried about the risk of injuries and death as a result of drunk driving during St. Patrick's Day. That worry can often be translated into overeager arrests and other mistakes, however. It is crucial to be aware of the local law about driving while intoxicated, and to know your rights and responsibilities as a driver. Getting caught in a "high-profile enforcement effort," as the department calls it, could entail a very difficult situation for someone who is not sure if they have actually violated the law, or if the arresting officer followed the proper protocol when administering sobriety tests and carrying out the arrest. Sheriff Robert Spain wants to reduce drunk driving fatalities and accidents, but that noble goal should not at the same time interfere with the civil rights of drivers in Madison County.
